Graeme Melton and a mate were travelling across South Australia in 1973, their EH Holden was in dire need of maintenance and Graeme took up casual work at a passing winery. The site supervisor was Peter Lehmann and young Graeme had his epiphany on the road to Barossa Valley. Lehmann suggested that Graeme change his name to Charlie and take the pilgrimmage to Vallee Rhone. Charlie became prepossessed with the culture of old vines Grenache, Shiraz and Mourverdre. He returned to the Barossa, at a time when old vineyard fruit was made into flagon Port and growers were destroying their historic sites in return for government grants. Charlie emabarked on a crusade to conserve and restore the ancient vines, establishing his cellars at Tanunda along Krondorf Road. He has since retained the most..
Melton makes a mean mourvedre»
Returning to his home along the Nagambie Lakes after the completion of service during World War II, Eric Purbrick discovered a cache of wine, hidden circa 1876 under the family estate cellars. Though pale in colour, it was sound and drinkable after seven decades. The promise of long lived red wine inspired Purbrick to establish new plantings at Chateau Tahbilk in 1949, today they are some of Victoria's oldest productive Cabernet Sauvignon vines. Having barely scraped through the ravages of phyloxera and a period of disrepute, the fortunes of Tahbilk were turned around by Purbrick who was the first to market Australian wine under its varietal name. Tahbilk proudly hosts the largest, single holding of Marsanne on the planet. Tahbilk's original rows of Shiraz are commonly cited as one of..
Phyloxera, ancient cellars & seriously old vines»
Medium bodied, the lively palate offers zesty lemon/ lime flavours combined whith guava and hints of thyme and spice. Is it from Margaret River, classicaly fruit driven and rejuvenatingly dry? you bet! Xanadu were one of the regional pioneers... More»
More savoury than fruity, a faint hint of clove and fresh cardamom adds intrigue to the nose. Ata Rangi founder Clive Paton has long been an avid tree planter and has won a number of awards for... More»
Lovely primary forest fruits and red currants with traces of spice and silky milk chocolate tannins at the finish. Planted in 1991 and added to the Penny's Hill estate vineyard group in 1993, Malpas Road is named after the... More»
Best described as a new world Chablis, the palate is long and lean with citrus, white peach and excellent minerality before a spicy, nutty finish. Lock & Key redefines the style of New South Wales Chardonnay... More»
A complex, aromatically opulent cornucopia of flavour, bushels of fruit and classic autolysis within a glorious effervescence of the finest bubble. A mostly Shiraz Cuvee sourced from six of the Melton's best dry grown, old vine blocks... More»
Very lifted nose with a faint camphor/ methanol note but not intrusive. A collation of choice parcels Shiraz from the Krondorf Village districts in Barossa... More»
Three British Army officers, in their capacity as agents of the East India Company, established one of Western Australia's first agricultural enterprises in 1836. Named after Captain Richmond Houghton, it was not until Thomas Yule's stewardship that vines were planted and the first vintage of Houghton wine flowed in 1859. Thomas Yule now sources fruit from the eminent Justin Vineyard in Frankland River, a dark ruby Shiraz of lifted liquorice and intense brambleberry, seasoned by piquant pepper notes and supported by showroom tannins. The very elite of Frankland River Shiraz...
Artisanal wines of distinguished sites»
Great wines from the Great Southern, the nether southwest rump of the continent, which yields the most astonishing quality vintages, both red and white. Castelli are a family of renewable power engineers, who are at their happiest picking grapes off vines. Boutique and very hands on, their efforts have been rewarded by prestigious international accolades, including Royal Perth Trophy for Best Chardonnay, San Francisco and International Wine Challenge Gold for Cabernet Sauvignon, Sydney Blue Gold for Shiraz. Defined by weighty palates, edifying complexity and statuesque grace, the entire range of Castelli represent an inspiring opportunity for immersion into the chiselled and strapping, stately Great Southern styling...
Wonderfully winsome whiffs from the west»